MLP Ventures, founded by Brian O’Neil, is proposing building MULTIPLE data centers within King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. According to Chestnut Hill Local, “the proposed projects in Upper Merion include a 1.6 million square-foot center on 411 Swedeland Road and a 1.9 million square-foot facility nearby at 2201, 2301, 2701 and 2901 Renaissance Blvd. There’s also a pitch for 187,000 square-foot data center at 2100 Renaissance Road and another on 3200 Horizon Drive spanning 370,000 square feet”.  For comparison, the square footage of these proposed centers is over 4 million square feet. The Philadelphia International Airport is only 3.25 million square feet. 

This proposal for the data centers was put in before Upper Merion updated their zoning ordinances that require these facilites to be more regulated in how they operate. These ordinances look at water usage, size and noise pollution, and also put limits on how close they can be to residents in the area. As the proposal stands, these data centers are less than 1,000 feet from resident’s homes. These centers will be using water from the Schuylkill River, which flows from the Appalachian Mountains all the way into Philadelphia, PA.

King of Prussia is a historic area with a history older than the United States. About a half hour from Philadelphia, it’s home to one of the nation’s largest shopping malls, a national park, countless businesses and companies, and a rapidly growing K-12 school district.  It’s only minutes away from the Philadelphia Main Line and its colleges such as Villanova, Haverford, Swarthmore, and Bryn Mawr College, and is serviced by SEPTA all throughout.  King of Prussia is a growing home to global immigrant communities -  Desi, Latin American, East Asian, Arab, the area is becoming incredibly diverse. It’s nearby countless other suburbs including Conshohoken, Norristown, Plymouth Meeting, Phoneixville, Audubon, Wayne… the list goes on. The point is, there’s a lot going on around here. And there’s a lot at stake, considering the devastating effects AI centers have on communities.

Across the country, data centers have completely changed the communities they inhabit:

Increased Taxes - Tax and subsidies granted to data center developers have often decreased local tax revenue, leaving the local schools, residents and businesses to pay the difference. Even if the mall helps out with some local taxes, it’s likely the residents will still be negatively impacted
Local Water Usage - The relationship the data center will have with the local water resovoiurs remain unclear. What we do know is that developers intend to use water from the Schuylkill River, which does provide water to over 2 million individuals in Philadelphia, and is a life source to Southeastern PA’s local environment.  And when a data center comes to town, impacted residents have reported dirty and limited water in their homes, and water bills going through the roof.
Electricity - They put immense strain on local power grids, and residents see massive spikes in their utility bills.
Pollution - The reported “humming” and nitrogen/greenhouse gasses emitted increase the amount of air and noise pollution in the area. And when you consider how developer bypassed the regulations and want to build in a very residental area, one can assume it won’t be a pretty result.
Home Values Drop - The collective negative impacts in the area result in local homes losing their value, destroying the equity people worked to put into it.

Residents of King of Prussia and neighboring towns reject the proposal of this data center campus, and all future AI data centers in this area. As individuals who care about our environment, our taxes, our communal spaces, and basic needs including water, building these data centers pose a direct threat to what makes the Greater Philly area so vibrant and attractive to live in. We ask that elected officials focus on the needs and desires of the residents they serve, and carry out their civic duty to protect their community for the people of today and tomorrow.

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Current Resources 

https://www.chestnuthilllocal.com/stories/phila-developer-seeks-to-build-data-center-campus-in-upper-merion-township,40666​ 

https://www.umtownship.org/308/Board-of-Supervisors​

https://www.umtownship.org/328/Planning-Commission

Public Meeting for AI Center Decision - Agenda

https://www.umtownship.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05272026-475

Board of Supervisor Emails - The Final Decision Makers

TGarzillo@umtownship.org

bjenaway@umtownship.org

ckenney@umtownship.org

gphillips@umtownship.org

gwaks@umtownship.org